Report Says Academic Health
Centers Have Major Role in Resolving Nurse Shortage
September 27, 2002-Academic health centers are in
a unique position to help reverse the shortage of nurses,
according to a report released on Sept. 25. The report, "Nursing
Shortage and Academic Health Centers: Assessing Options for
Remedy in a Complex System," was commissioned by the
Nursing Shortage Advisory Committee of the
Association of Academic Health Centers. J. Richard Gaintner,
M.D., Interim Executive Vice President for Health Sciences
and Executive Dean of Georgetown University Medical Center,
and Gregory Eastwood, M.D., President of Upstate Medical University
of the State University of New York, discussed the report
during an event announcing its release.
According to the report, many academic health centers (AHCs)
are directly involved in nurse education, nursing research,
and nursing service innovations. Having such a diversity of
functions affords "unique opportunities to help design
and evaluate nursing roles of the future and to provide leadership
for the education of the nurses to fill those roles."
The report outlines several ways in which AHCs can help address
the complex factors driving the nurse shortage. For example,
they can enhance their graduate level nurse education programs
to assure the future availability of advance practice nurses,
nurse administrators, nurse researchers, and nursing school
faculty. AHCs already train approximately 45.6 percent of
master's degree candidates and 71.1 percent of doctoral students.
The report acknowledges that AHCs will need assistance in
financing such initiatives. The authors call for increased
federal funding, as well as state and university support.
Information:
Christiane Mitchell, Senior Legislative Affairs Manager
AAMC Government Relations
cmitchell@aamc.org
(202) 828-0526
Get Washington Highlights
in your Inbox!
| 
